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Stranger Things #4
Stranger Things: Rebel Robin
Discover the backstory of new Stranger Things fan favorite Robin--the perfect read for anyone looking forward to devouring the fourth season on Netflix--now available as a paperback!
High school is a monster, and it's eating everyone Robin knows. It's the beginning of sophomore year, and Robin's Odd Squad friends couple up, won't stop talking about college and their future careers, and are obsessed with trying to act normal. Robin knows that game well--she's been pretending for years, hoping nobody would notice the sarcastic polyglot French horn player with a bad perm in the back of the room. But there's one aspect of her identity that she knows for sure doesn't fit in with her image--Robin likes girls.
How is she supposed to be her true self in teeny-tiny Hawkins, Indiana? Robin is convinced the only way she can experience real life is by fleeing to Europe for the summer--aka Operation Croissant. But she has no money, no permission, and no one to share the adventure with--and it will take a heck of a lot more than that to escape Hawkins in one piece.
Sprinkled with references to your favorite Stranger Things characters, this prequel chronicles one girl's realization that the only person she really needs to be accepted by is herself.
High school is a monster, and it's eating everyone Robin knows. It's the beginning of sophomore year, and Robin's Odd Squad friends couple up, won't stop talking about college and their future careers, and are obsessed with trying to act normal. Robin knows that game well--she's been pretending for years, hoping nobody would notice the sarcastic polyglot French horn player with a bad perm in the back of the room. But there's one aspect of her identity that she knows for sure doesn't fit in with her image--Robin likes girls.
How is she supposed to be her true self in teeny-tiny Hawkins, Indiana? Robin is convinced the only way she can experience real life is by fleeing to Europe for the summer--aka Operation Croissant. But she has no money, no permission, and no one to share the adventure with--and it will take a heck of a lot more than that to escape Hawkins in one piece.
Sprinkled with references to your favorite Stranger Things characters, this prequel chronicles one girl's realization that the only person she really needs to be accepted by is herself.
368 pages, Paperback
First published June 29, 2021
443 people are currently reading
6397 people want to read
About the author
A.R. Capetta
21 books893 followersA. R. Capetta (all pronouns), the author of Echo After Echo and The Lost Coast, has lived in Austin and worked as a professional baker and holds a master of fine arts in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. A. R. Capetta is married to author Cory McCarthy, and they live in Vermont with their young baker.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 779 reviews
July 1, 2021
win for the lesbians honestly
July 23, 2022
Another ST novel. Okay, but not mindblowing. I love Robin, so I was excited to read more about her experiences. It was fun to get bits of her that the show didn't share. Her character is just so relatable. This particular book in the series feels more YA than the first two. Good representation. Gotta love Robin! Recommended for ST fans.
Want to read
June 20, 2021Queer teens in the 80s!! Tell me you don't need it!
January 17, 2025
⤷ UPDATE (2025): I have officially switched to Storygraph and thus won't be active on Goodreads any longer.
• my gurlllll is here, she’s queer and I am about to cheer!!!
• the constant Steve Harrington slander though lmao
• "high school is a monster and it's eating everyone I know"
• "Steve Harrington shows up three and a half minutes late, looking lost, probably because his hair flopped into his eyes and he couldn't see any of the classroom numbers" - ah yes, Steve "The Hair" Harrington strikes again<3
• "Even Miss Click beams at Steve like his hair somehow cured cancer." - who’s to say it hasn’t (perhaps the evil government just keeps the cure hidden lol) have you seen his hair ???
• love that the description of Tammy fits Vickie perfectly… our girl’s got a type (though, I am a Ronance shipper)
• ADHD!Robin is real and valid (gonna repeat that statement for almost every character in the ST universe, watch me)
• lmao absolutely iconic that Robin has the worst gaydar ever
• looove that her parents are hippies and stoned all the time
• "Mike, her extremely pale child snarls at her and runs away" why do people keep pointing out how pale and sickly he looks, my poor son
• "Her ghostly child with a frightful dark bowl cut shrieks"
• "Steve Harrington is always going to be the same. He’s going to suck exactly this much forever." just you wait, babygirl, just you wait
• Kate saying Steve is interested in Nancy and Robin going: "'Really?' I ask with an unwelcome spike of interest" mhhhmmmm ronance is real
• the language learning hyperfixation is so ADHD-coded
Why does everyone assume that all 15-year-old girls are obsessed with boys? Can’t I want to go about my day without trying to date? I mean just because a person isn’t interested in dating doesn’t mean that they are broken or anything, I’m allowed to care more about school and actually someday getting out of Hawkins instead of finding someone who is gonna tie me to this place forever, aren’t I?
• Robin searching for the perfect partner to travel through Europe with her but failing to find them… now I want Steve and Robin (or Robin and Nancy !!!) to do that once 001 is defeated🥺👀
• "Is what we have really civilization if boys still can’t say the word period out loud?"
• Steve's hair is having a dialogue with Tammy now, I kid you not… this shit is canon.
• Robin repeatedly emphasizing how much she dislikes Steve, when this is literally them:
• the way it’s implied that Robin drove past the Demogorgon hiding in the woods (cause she lives in the same neighbourhood as Will) and that he easily could have abducted her instead of Will… damn, he really likes his victims fruity, huh?
• Jonathan actually making eye contact with someone (his own age)? sounds fake but okay
• when Robin meets Will and she’s like: OMG. THIS CINNAMON ROLL. I WANT TO ADOPT HIM. HE MUST BE PROTECTED. Does that mean that Robin is going to be Will’s gay guru in S5👀👀 I have connected the dots!
The things I did to keep myself safer, smaller, quieter. Because I know how different I really am. I know letting it all out is committing to a life where I fight the monsters of normality every single day. And doing it alone.
• Robin’s parents immediately going: THE GOVERNMENT IS HIDING SOMETHING when they find out a boy is missing lol. Kinda headcanoning now that Murray is friends with them and when S5 comes around Murray walks in and Robin is just like ??? why is my parents’ weird conspiracy theory friend besties with Joyce ???
• DO NOT TOUCH MY GURL, DASH, DO YOU HEAR ME YOU FREAKING DISGUSTING PERV GET AWAY FROM HER
• why is it always the English (literature) teachers that are the #inspirational ones
• I absolutely adore that Robin sees Joyce and thinks she’s found someone like herself… I really really need Robin to interact some more with the Byers (literally ANY of them) in S5 pleaseeeee😭😭
• I am once again asking for Robin & Jonathan besties content… THINK OF THE POTENTIAL!!!
• "Mrs. Byers’ eyebrows went on a journey" is a very fitting way to describe Winona’s iconic facial expressions
• BOB. OMG. BOB😭😭 HE’S SO PRECIOUS AHHHH
There are times when I crash hard into the hope of finding my people. Friends who would stick with me through anything. A girl I can have a less hopeless crush on.
• the fact that Hopper's car smells like waffles… my heart
• "Mr Hauser said there are gay people everywhere but all I see are middle schoolers" oh, honey... the middle schoolers ARE the gay people *winks in Byler*
• the fact that Robin mistakes Nancy for Tam and gets incredibly jealous oHohOHoooHOOOhhoooo… thank you I shall take that as Ronance foreshadowing🥰
• Robin yelling at Steve ahhhh👌🏼
• I bet Hopper would rather die than chaperone the high school prom lmao leave the poor man alone
• Awww Robin and Sheena dancing together at prom… yesss
She spins me, and I spin her. My hand rushes over her waist as I pull her back in. Then she dips me, which is pretty hilarious because I’m at least five inches taller. She looks down at me and beams. I don’t know what this dance means to her—if it’s just a prom-night whim or something else—but I know what it means to me. It’s my first dance with a girl. And it won’t be my last.
• Robin: "Are you going to be this much of a prima donna about everything?“ Steve: "I’m nothing like Madonna, so that doesn’t even make sense."
• "Steve," I say sweetly, "we might be coworkers but there is no universe in which you and I become friends." guuurl u sure about that ???
Runaway Max (#3) ⭑⭑⭑⭑☆
Rebel Robin (#4) ⭑⭑⭑⭑☆
September 4, 2024
This is a book based on the television series Stranger Things. In this one we meet up with Robin before we see her in the television show. This takes place during the first couple of seasons of the show as events from the show are in the background of this novel.
I did not enjoy this like other reviewers and that might be a case of me not being the target audience and able to put myself in the shoes of the main character. That happened because I am a man in my 50's while the main character is a teenage girl who is discovering herself. That being said I like the message of the book. It is a coming of age story while figuring out who you are. I can get behind that with no problems. I also thought the author did a terrific job with the portrayal of Robin. I loved the use of events that happened on the show and how Robin was not a part of these events yet. My complaint about this book was the author was not subtle at all. Numerous times she would use the term "monster" to describe an everyday event when we know that real monsters exist in this universe. She also did this when a number was involved in a scene and it would always be "eleven". I get it. You have watched the show. These examples were not the worst case of this. That had to do with the character Steve. We all know the friendship that happens between these characters. This takes place before that. Then why was Steve who was on the periphery mentioned so much? Or his hair? I understand what the author was trying to do but she beat it to death. I actually said out loud once "I get it. Get off the pot about this!" This really took me out of the flow of the book and the theme of it.
I just wish this was better as the character deserves better. I especially believe this because of the time frame. It could not have been easy for a gay person during the 80's and the author started to tackle this subject. If she stayed on this course or just concentrated on Robin's self discovery I would have enjoyed this so much more. Instead she had to basically look right at the reader when she thought she was being clever and ask "Do you see what I am doing here?" I wish she trusted the readers a little more. In the end it was a decent book with some shortcomings that prevented it from being a really good book.
I did not enjoy this like other reviewers and that might be a case of me not being the target audience and able to put myself in the shoes of the main character. That happened because I am a man in my 50's while the main character is a teenage girl who is discovering herself. That being said I like the message of the book. It is a coming of age story while figuring out who you are. I can get behind that with no problems. I also thought the author did a terrific job with the portrayal of Robin. I loved the use of events that happened on the show and how Robin was not a part of these events yet. My complaint about this book was the author was not subtle at all. Numerous times she would use the term "monster" to describe an everyday event when we know that real monsters exist in this universe. She also did this when a number was involved in a scene and it would always be "eleven". I get it. You have watched the show. These examples were not the worst case of this. That had to do with the character Steve. We all know the friendship that happens between these characters. This takes place before that. Then why was Steve who was on the periphery mentioned so much? Or his hair? I understand what the author was trying to do but she beat it to death. I actually said out loud once "I get it. Get off the pot about this!" This really took me out of the flow of the book and the theme of it.
I just wish this was better as the character deserves better. I especially believe this because of the time frame. It could not have been easy for a gay person during the 80's and the author started to tackle this subject. If she stayed on this course or just concentrated on Robin's self discovery I would have enjoyed this so much more. Instead she had to basically look right at the reader when she thought she was being clever and ask "Do you see what I am doing here?" I wish she trusted the readers a little more. In the end it was a decent book with some shortcomings that prevented it from being a really good book.
June 14, 2022
Listen I’m going through a very specific hyperfix please let me live—
August 28, 2021
This is definitely the best Stranger Things book I’ve read so far. I love LOVE Robin and this book just made me love her so much more.
I desperately need, no, DEMAND a sequel to this with Robin and Steve going to Europe together. They’ll get stuffed full of croissants; they will help each other flirt with girls in French; Steve will drag Robin to every high end beauty store so he can find the best hair products; and Robin will constantly correct Steve’s pronunciation. They’ll make so many memories together and now I’m crying.
I could read an entire book on just Robin and Steve’s banter. It’s the kind of wholesome content my heart deserves.
I desperately need, no, DEMAND a sequel to this with Robin and Steve going to Europe together. They’ll get stuffed full of croissants; they will help each other flirt with girls in French; Steve will drag Robin to every high end beauty store so he can find the best hair products; and Robin will constantly correct Steve’s pronunciation. They’ll make so many memories together and now I’m crying.
I could read an entire book on just Robin and Steve’s banter. It’s the kind of wholesome content my heart deserves.
July 3, 2021
3.5 - I absolutely loved Robin’s character when she was introduced in season 3 of Stranger Things. So I was excited when I learned that there was going to be a book all about her backstory. The book follows her in her sophomore year as she’s feeling out of place in her friend group, trying to figure out how to get out of Hawkins for the summer/for good, and as she realizes that she’s gay.
It was fun to see this purely real world focused story happening during the same timeline as season 1. Seeing how people who weren’t in the know about what really happened with Will Byers, Barb, and the Upside Down were reacting to the events was cool. I’m a sucker for a good teacher as a mentor character so I liked how Mr. Hauser was incorporated into the story. Also, seeing a young gay person coming of age and realizing their sexuality in the 80s during the AIDS epidemic was an interesting and heartbreaking read.
The book is written in first person which felt a bit weird to me. I think third person would’ve felt more natural since I’m used to seeing Robin from an outside perspective in the show rather than from inside her head. At times the voice Robin had in the book didn’t totally feel like the character. Also, because this is a prequel and we as the readers already know that she’s gay, I think it would’ve worked better to have Robin herself realize it a bit earlier in the story. It felt somewhat rushed at the end when she starts to not care so much about fitting in and decides that she’s just going to live for herself. I would’ve liked to see more of the progression rather than that just squeezed into the last few chapters.
But overall this was a nice read and it has made me even more excited for season 4… whenever that will actually come out.
P.S. I hope they give Robin a girlfriend or love interest that isn’t unrequited in season 4.
It was fun to see this purely real world focused story happening during the same timeline as season 1. Seeing how people who weren’t in the know about what really happened with Will Byers, Barb, and the Upside Down were reacting to the events was cool. I’m a sucker for a good teacher as a mentor character so I liked how Mr. Hauser was incorporated into the story. Also, seeing a young gay person coming of age and realizing their sexuality in the 80s during the AIDS epidemic was an interesting and heartbreaking read.
The book is written in first person which felt a bit weird to me. I think third person would’ve felt more natural since I’m used to seeing Robin from an outside perspective in the show rather than from inside her head. At times the voice Robin had in the book didn’t totally feel like the character. Also, because this is a prequel and we as the readers already know that she’s gay, I think it would’ve worked better to have Robin herself realize it a bit earlier in the story. It felt somewhat rushed at the end when she starts to not care so much about fitting in and decides that she’s just going to live for herself. I would’ve liked to see more of the progression rather than that just squeezed into the last few chapters.
But overall this was a nice read and it has made me even more excited for season 4… whenever that will actually come out.
P.S. I hope they give Robin a girlfriend or love interest that isn’t unrequited in season 4.
July 3, 2021
The best of the "Stranger Things" novels so far, in my opinion. The author totally nails Robin's voice, and fills out her backstory in a way that fits in with everything we know about her. It's also really interesting to see the point of view of someone who didn't know about the things that were going on in the show, and how those events were perceived. Plus, it's pretty funny! If you've been curious about the tie-in novels, this is a great place to start.
April 12, 2022
I really liked this book! I like how she changed at the end
July 5, 2022
who would have thought that robin's inner monologue would be so relatable.
anyway, maya hawke would own the prom crashing scene i just know it.
anyway, maya hawke would own the prom crashing scene i just know it.
August 8, 2022
adored everything about this book,, robin buckley is so personal to me
November 27, 2022
was this groundbreaking writing or plot? no. did my stranger things obsessed brain absolutely absorb every single word? yes 100%. I really just had the best time reading this and that alone is worth 5 stars. and it was nice to get a bit of the ST world without the supernatural elements.
anyway robin is such a fucking important character and she means a lot to a whole group of people including me so reading about her life leading up to her working at scoops with steve and getting tangled up in the mess™ was just so healing (I say mess as if they aren't gonna get kidnapped and tortured by russians weeks after the end of the book).
forever thankful to maya for convincing the duffers to let robin be a lesbian (and also for giving me my codependent platonic soulmates steve and robin) this character truly makes me feel seen.
anyway robin is such a fucking important character and she means a lot to a whole group of people including me so reading about her life leading up to her working at scoops with steve and getting tangled up in the mess™ was just so healing (I say mess as if they aren't gonna get kidnapped and tortured by russians weeks after the end of the book).
forever thankful to maya for convincing the duffers to let robin be a lesbian (and also for giving me my codependent platonic soulmates steve and robin) this character truly makes me feel seen.
February 4, 2022
I truly do think that had I read this book when I was younger, I would have figured everything out a whole lot sooner. Honestly the main reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is cause I’m mad at myself that I didn’t read it sooner cause younger me needed a book like this so badly.
July 18, 2022
robin buckley you will always be famous
April 23, 2024
I cried twice, don’t ask me why because I don’t know.
June 16, 2021
An excellent deep dive into Robin that shows how the normies handled everything in the first two seasons!
Also, the book starts and ends on my birth date so how can I not love it?
Also, the book starts and ends on my birth date so how can I not love it?
December 31, 2025
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ now playing: "total eclipse of the heart" - bonnie tyler
"𝘪 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺. 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘱 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺, 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳."
this is probably one of the best renditions they couldve done for a prequel of robins character — it is so rich with so many references and depth from the actual show, as well as relevant parallels to the later seasons, such as how she feels about will byers, interactions with joyce, feelings about barb, nancy, and steve, etc. not to mention how it jabs at your heart using foreshadowing from a past perspective. the book begins a few months before the start of season one, meaning it covers a lot of season one’s action from an outsider’s perspective, and i love that. especially since robin ends up being part of the crew in later seasons. her character arc in this book is so true to who she is in the series — i was reading her dialogue and thoughts in her voice and it was so exciting to me because it felt like unlocking extra scenes with one of my favorite characters.
→ 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅 .ᐟ.ᐟ
i also think this is so relatable to the lesbian experience. robin has always been one of my favorite characters since she was introduced, long before i fully understood my sexuality. and to explore robin’s identity through this story where she has a strong connection to a girl in her fantasy (loved reading about tammy btw - a.r. capetta makes her such a likable and well-rounded character), while she gets close with her best guy friend and gets that “oh-shit” feeling that he might have a crush on her, is such a feeling i know all too well. i’ve been through these motions before, and even the fact that robin didn’t know what flirting with a guy looked like in the first place (shocked she might have been playing into it without even knowing) was so relatable, too! i have always felt more comfortable letting my real personality loose around guys faster than girls because it didn’t matter as much to me if they liked me or not. whereas with girls, it always felt harder to fit in and be liked, which is what i saw in robin. i loved that aspect of her identity.
robin’s whole plan to run away to europe plotline makes so much sense if you think about how she knows four additional languages and dreamed of something more than hawkins. if you think back to season three, it always seemed like she was better than the town, a little too seasoned and uncharacteristic for it. even if she is a nerd, she thinks and appreciates in ways that other people don't, like mr. hauser, the english teacher. it's actually so ironic that max feels this same way in runaway max. it almost makes me wonder if we got a story about will, would he also feel this way where he needs to run away from hawkins in order for his life to begin? i would adore a will novel written this well. this story gave a cool insight into the outer part of hawkins high - i always like to see little glimpses of what life looks like for the surrounding characters. it pays nice homage to season one, too.
the side characters, milton, dash, and kate, were all portrayed as realistic townspeople in hawkins. i don’t have any criticisms of them because the story doesn’t center them. i liked robin bonding with sheena, the other weird girl, after she decided to put her walls down. it goes to show that when you're hiding yourself away, people won't recognize you like if you finally show yourself.
also to mention her implied neurodivergence - which is also hinted at and deepened by this book, with her feelings of alienation compared to other people, feeling as though she has to rehearse or memorize a predetermined set of words and rules in order to interact with people, and who she sees as a comfortable crowd. that moment where she meets joyce at the melvald's general store and she doesn't put up a front with her because she feels instantly comfortable around her was so cute and a nice moment to look back on after season five. (and funny how joyce also interacts with max in runaway max!) i think the story ended with a satisfying transition into series robin - she never got too close with anyone, always yearning for deeper connections until her appearance in season three. and the fact that it leaves us off with "there is no universe where you and i are friends, steve" is so funny and perfect for her.
"𝘪 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺. 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘱 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺, 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳."
this is probably one of the best renditions they couldve done for a prequel of robins character — it is so rich with so many references and depth from the actual show, as well as relevant parallels to the later seasons, such as how she feels about will byers, interactions with joyce, feelings about barb, nancy, and steve, etc. not to mention how it jabs at your heart using foreshadowing from a past perspective. the book begins a few months before the start of season one, meaning it covers a lot of season one’s action from an outsider’s perspective, and i love that. especially since robin ends up being part of the crew in later seasons. her character arc in this book is so true to who she is in the series — i was reading her dialogue and thoughts in her voice and it was so exciting to me because it felt like unlocking extra scenes with one of my favorite characters.
→ 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅 .ᐟ.ᐟ
i also think this is so relatable to the lesbian experience. robin has always been one of my favorite characters since she was introduced, long before i fully understood my sexuality. and to explore robin’s identity through this story where she has a strong connection to a girl in her fantasy (loved reading about tammy btw - a.r. capetta makes her such a likable and well-rounded character), while she gets close with her best guy friend and gets that “oh-shit” feeling that he might have a crush on her, is such a feeling i know all too well. i’ve been through these motions before, and even the fact that robin didn’t know what flirting with a guy looked like in the first place (shocked she might have been playing into it without even knowing) was so relatable, too! i have always felt more comfortable letting my real personality loose around guys faster than girls because it didn’t matter as much to me if they liked me or not. whereas with girls, it always felt harder to fit in and be liked, which is what i saw in robin. i loved that aspect of her identity.
robin’s whole plan to run away to europe plotline makes so much sense if you think about how she knows four additional languages and dreamed of something more than hawkins. if you think back to season three, it always seemed like she was better than the town, a little too seasoned and uncharacteristic for it. even if she is a nerd, she thinks and appreciates in ways that other people don't, like mr. hauser, the english teacher. it's actually so ironic that max feels this same way in runaway max. it almost makes me wonder if we got a story about will, would he also feel this way where he needs to run away from hawkins in order for his life to begin? i would adore a will novel written this well. this story gave a cool insight into the outer part of hawkins high - i always like to see little glimpses of what life looks like for the surrounding characters. it pays nice homage to season one, too.
the side characters, milton, dash, and kate, were all portrayed as realistic townspeople in hawkins. i don’t have any criticisms of them because the story doesn’t center them. i liked robin bonding with sheena, the other weird girl, after she decided to put her walls down. it goes to show that when you're hiding yourself away, people won't recognize you like if you finally show yourself.
also to mention her implied neurodivergence - which is also hinted at and deepened by this book, with her feelings of alienation compared to other people, feeling as though she has to rehearse or memorize a predetermined set of words and rules in order to interact with people, and who she sees as a comfortable crowd. that moment where she meets joyce at the melvald's general store and she doesn't put up a front with her because she feels instantly comfortable around her was so cute and a nice moment to look back on after season five. (and funny how joyce also interacts with max in runaway max!) i think the story ended with a satisfying transition into series robin - she never got too close with anyone, always yearning for deeper connections until her appearance in season three. and the fact that it leaves us off with "there is no universe where you and i are friends, steve" is so funny and perfect for her.
April 16, 2022
This is a really nice book. I can forgive it being slightly melodramatic as Robin is fifteen for the majority of it. It's a pretty straightforward coming-of-age novel and the author managed to nail Robin's voice pretty well. She was very easy to warm to and feel empathy towards (and I agree with Steve, she can do a lot better than that irritating melt, Tammy Thompson, who lost me as soon as I realised that she sings out loud IN class and not just at like, recess or whatever) particularly since her parents seem to be phoning it in most of the time.
The only parts I didn't enjoy were the parts where Robin interacted with pre-existing characters from the show like Joyce and Hopper. Those moments felt like they were crammed in for the sake of fan service and were therefore jarringly unnatural, particularly this one scene with Hopper wherein his voice is very off.
Also, why IS Steve in Robin's history class when he's a year ahead of her?
The only parts I didn't enjoy were the parts where Robin interacted with pre-existing characters from the show like Joyce and Hopper. Those moments felt like they were crammed in for the sake of fan service and were therefore jarringly unnatural, particularly this one scene with Hopper wherein his voice is very off.
Also, why IS Steve in Robin's history class when he's a year ahead of her?
July 17, 2023
2 stars ⭐️
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i've loved robin ever since she first appeared in st3 in her sailor suit calling steve harrington a dingus. she's become very special to me and as i wait in this drought of stranger things content, i was very excited to read about one of my favorite characters ever, even if the story isn't canon to the show - but sadly i was pretty disappointed.
this book is narrated by robin; obviously show-robin and book-robin and written by two completely different people, so there's bound to be differences in character, but it just didn't feel like what i'd imagine her internal monologue would be. show-robin is snarky and sarcastic in a very funny teenager-y way but book-robin's sarcasm came off as more "i'm better than you and everyone else sucks."
to be completely honest, i don't think i would've read this if it wasn't about robin. i was pretty uninterested the whole time.
TLDR; love the premise, didn't like the execution
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i've loved robin ever since she first appeared in st3 in her sailor suit calling steve harrington a dingus. she's become very special to me and as i wait in this drought of stranger things content, i was very excited to read about one of my favorite characters ever, even if the story isn't canon to the show - but sadly i was pretty disappointed.
this book is narrated by robin; obviously show-robin and book-robin and written by two completely different people, so there's bound to be differences in character, but it just didn't feel like what i'd imagine her internal monologue would be. show-robin is snarky and sarcastic in a very funny teenager-y way but book-robin's sarcasm came off as more "i'm better than you and everyone else sucks."
to be completely honest, i don't think i would've read this if it wasn't about robin. i was pretty uninterested the whole time.
TLDR; love the premise, didn't like the execution
November 19, 2025
this was a re-read in honor of Stranger Things 5 coming out!
November 7, 2021
Loved getting a backstory to Robin and her life along the disasters that occurred in Hawkins before she found herself involved.
This is a coming of age, make mistakes, and finding yourself and what matters.
This is a coming of age, make mistakes, and finding yourself and what matters.
August 9, 2022
I’ve read this book for my inner 14-year-old and i regret nothing
June 5, 2023
A trip down the memory lane before all hell broke loose in Hawkins. Although what I love the most about the show are friendships that evolved through the years it was nice to get a glimpse how was it before and from a perspective where the main characters are sporadic.
I love Robin. She is intelligent, funny, sarcastic, thoughtful, hard working and loyal. I wish I was more like her in high school.
I would recommend this book to those who love YA and if you are a huge Stranger Things fan don't be too nitpicky.
I love Robin. She is intelligent, funny, sarcastic, thoughtful, hard working and loyal. I wish I was more like her in high school.
I would recommend this book to those who love YA and if you are a huge Stranger Things fan don't be too nitpicky.
September 24, 2022
Before I start, I will say I’m glad I listened to the podcast before reading the book. The book talks about the effects of Robins friendship with Mr Hauser, the podcast gives a chance to hear their conversations.
If I could only use one word to describe this book, I would use the word cohesive. No charachter is insignificant. There are charachters from them show, there are charachters introduced in this story. Despite their break up into parts, this book moves along smoothly.
This book is split into three parts, and the timeline jumps around some. The first part is set around Fall of 1983, and there are mentions of Will Byers. However, they don’t overpower them story. They aren’t anything more than mentions.
The second and third parts are set in 1984. Part two is when the timeline starts to break up. Neither of the parts follow the stranger things season two timeline. This works for the story, because it offers a chance to follow Robin entirely.
There is also a brief epilogue at the end set in June of 1985, right before we meet Robin in the show.
For me, this book hit deep. I am a queer person living in a small town, and a lot of this was so painfully relatable. This moved me, and I’m glad I read it.
This is, in my opinion, the best of the ST spin-off novels. I like how Robins story is clearly separated from the first two seasons of stranger things. This gives Robin a chance to shine. I also like that this book is set in Hawkins. It demonstrates a small town dynamic (where you can run into people anywhere and everywhere). There are also some brief periods where Robin talks about what she likes about Hawkins. This is realistic, especially thrown into parts of the story where Robin wants to get out so badly.
I’ll say it, this book made me cry. If dug down deep snd not me personally.
I highly recommend this book. I would suggest listening to the podcast first, though. It adds important context to the story.
If I could only use one word to describe this book, I would use the word cohesive. No charachter is insignificant. There are charachters from them show, there are charachters introduced in this story. Despite their break up into parts, this book moves along smoothly.
This book is split into three parts, and the timeline jumps around some. The first part is set around Fall of 1983, and there are mentions of Will Byers. However, they don’t overpower them story. They aren’t anything more than mentions.
The second and third parts are set in 1984. Part two is when the timeline starts to break up. Neither of the parts follow the stranger things season two timeline. This works for the story, because it offers a chance to follow Robin entirely.
There is also a brief epilogue at the end set in June of 1985, right before we meet Robin in the show.
For me, this book hit deep. I am a queer person living in a small town, and a lot of this was so painfully relatable. This moved me, and I’m glad I read it.
This is, in my opinion, the best of the ST spin-off novels. I like how Robins story is clearly separated from the first two seasons of stranger things. This gives Robin a chance to shine. I also like that this book is set in Hawkins. It demonstrates a small town dynamic (where you can run into people anywhere and everywhere). There are also some brief periods where Robin talks about what she likes about Hawkins. This is realistic, especially thrown into parts of the story where Robin wants to get out so badly.
I’ll say it, this book made me cry. If dug down deep snd not me personally.
I highly recommend this book. I would suggest listening to the podcast first, though. It adds important context to the story.
July 22, 2021
This was a really fun read! You get the back story of Robin from Stranger Things season 3, and she's the perfect jaded highschool character that you come to expect from stories that take place in the 1980s.
Out of all the Stranger Things books so far, this one, and Runaway Max, are my favorites. All the books in this series serve as stand alone stories, with different main characters, so you can read (or not read) the books in any order you choose.
Oh, and there are a lot of fun easter eggs included as well!
Out of all the Stranger Things books so far, this one, and Runaway Max, are my favorites. All the books in this series serve as stand alone stories, with different main characters, so you can read (or not read) the books in any order you choose.
Oh, and there are a lot of fun easter eggs included as well!
September 9, 2021
This was about what I expected. It was fun, and had some good references to the show, but overall it was just meh. I did like it more that the three previous Stranger Things novels though, because the writing wasn't godawful. I didn't like book!Robin nearly as much as I like show!Robin. I absolutely love her for all her dry humor and sparkle in season 3, but in Rebel Robin she just came off as a standard pretentious not-like-the-other-girls YA protagonist.
April 3, 2022
"Mi mundo está lleno del supuesto, adondequiera que mire, de que a las chicas les gustan los chicos. Que las chicas salen con chicos. Que los gays son solo un rumor sobre algo que sucede en pueblos muy lejos de Hawkins, un segmento de las noticias. No tenía contexto para asumir que, cuando miraba a Tam, estaba sintiendo algo más que amistad.“
Me ha gustado mucho, fluye de manera muy natural. Al estar situado en 1983, hay partes en las que se muestran comportamientos homófobos, pero se suele tratar de manera bastante light y yo lo agradezco.
Me ha gustado mucho, fluye de manera muy natural. Al estar situado en 1983, hay partes en las que se muestran comportamientos homófobos, pero se suele tratar de manera bastante light y yo lo agradezco.
January 10, 2023
a whole book about MY gf… it was amazing
June 8, 2023
let's gooo lesbiansssssss!!! i love a good expansion on my favorite lesbian in hawkins!
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